SDF spokesman: Unity among Syrian Kurdish parties is 'an existential matter'

Mustafa Bali, head of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) media office told Rudaw on Tuesday night that unity among Kurdish parties is an 'existential matter,' urging all sides to cast aside their difference and unite before engaging in talks with the Syrian regime and other international key players to guarantee Kurdish rights in northern Syria. 

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is a military force and will not enter any Rojava-related political talks with any side, but will act under the umbrella of the autonomous self-administration authority of northern Syria, he added.

The following interview has been edited for clarity.

As the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in what way are you interested in engaging in talks with the Syrian regime? What are your plans and demands?

There are sensitive and dangerous developments ahead for Kurds. On the subject of talks and matters related to the Kurdish cause,  not just with the Syrian regime, but with the international community or the powerful countries which run worlds political affairs, we must be united. We have to take things seriously. The past and long-standing experiences that we have suffered including genocide and Anfal have proven that Kurds have a common conscience and are always looking to powerful countries such as Russia and America to provide us with our rights.

Let us bear in mind, Kurds only benefit when we are united on a political level and share a common political discourse. Rights are taken, not given. No enemy, no matter who they are, will give your rights if you are not strong enough or united. Therefore, any decision to engage in talks with the [Syrian] regime whether in Geneva or anywhere else, should not be unilateral. A single Kurdish side does not have the right to speak on everyone's behalf and take historical decisions alone.

On this matter, the SDF is of the belief that for the sake of forging unity among Kurds and Kurdish parties, we deem unity as an existential object. We are trying to bring together all sides with full force.

So, the SDF does not seek to enter talks with the Syrian regime alone?

Of course [not], because we are a military force. As a military force we must be within a system, as  is the case across the world. Military forces must act under the umbrella of a political system. We have said time and again that we consider the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (NES) as the political umbrellas. Therefore the SDC and NES must together with other political sides work to unite their voices and become more serious. And on such a basis, they should [then] go for talks. The military forces are not supposed to engage in such talks.

For a long-term and instrumental agreement, political parties must get together, have a single discourse, and unite their fronts. It is undeniable that there are daily political issues and different points of view. This is totally normal. When it comes to a national issues, they have to unite and agree on a delegation that can represent the entire nation.

In the beginning of Turkey's offensive, you were talking about dialogue saying Russia would act as a mediator after you made some military arrangements with the Syrian regime. Has Russia not said anything since then? Have they stopped their efforts to mediate between the two sides?

Look, as Kurds in general, not just the SDF, we  should all have a clear stance, we don't always have to  put our ball in the other sides' court, because it does not provide us with any solutions. We have to suppose that Russia and America are ready to act as mediators, but we have to be ready first to prepare our conditions ahead of the talks. TEVDEM [Movement for a Democratic Society] and KNC [Kurdish National Council] and others should not claim that they represent the Kurdish nation alone. A single side, no matter who they are, cannot solely  represent the nation. We must be united before America and Russia offer to be guarantors.

Unfortunately, our brothers from the KNC are still acting under the banner of the Syrian National Coalition while the TEVDEM is on another side and some other sides are aligned with different groups. Not just these political parties, even politicians, intellectuals, writers, journalists, influential figures and others must join efforts and share a single discourse to serve the Kurdish nation. They must engage in talks with each other. At this point, no one among the Kurds can accuse Russia,  America or the regime of  not being serious to resolve our issue. Before accusing others, we have to look at ourselves first and ask how serious we are to study the dangers ahead of us, and be ready to stand against threats.     

Interview conducted by Omer Kalo 

Translation by Zhelwan Z.Wali